Thijssen 'never spoke' of being Roar technical director

Brisbane Roar interim coach Frans Thijssen has added to the confusion surrounding his future, saying he "never spoke about" becoming the A-League club's technical director.

Thijssen ROar A-League

It appears Frans Thijssen will not be retained in any capacity by Brisbane Roar (Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Thijssen will not be offered the full-time coaching role next season with Spaniard Ramon Tribulietx, currently in charge of New Zealand side Auckland City, reportedly set to take over.
But it appears Thijssen will not be retained in any capacity by Roar - despite earlier commitments that he would be shifted into a backroom role once a senior coach is appointed.

General manager Sean Dobson and football director Ken Stead have both publicly maintained that Thijssen would be kept on, but chairman Chris Fong told The World Game this week said it would not be happening.
Speaking after a second-string Roar defeated Newcastle Jets 2-1 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, Thijssen said he was not sure what he will be doing next season - but he won't be Brisbane's technical director.

"I never spoke about working as a technical director," he said.

"That's not the thing I'm looking for, to be technical director.

"At the moment, I'm not interested in next season. I don't know where I am next season.

"That's for me not interesting, for me now it's working for Brisbane Roar and trying to make the season successful with two prizes.

"What happens to me, that's for me not so important.

"We see that in May when we sit down to talk."

At Thijssen's unveiling as the replacement for sacked coach Mike Mulvey in November, the Dutchman said: "When I was asked to come over to Australia, we spoke about working in the youth as a technical director, but things change in football."

Tribulietx, who is currently in Fiji ahead of Auckland City's OFC Champions League final against Team Wellington on Sunday, would not be drawn in on rumours linking him to Roar.

"I've got a job to do here at Auckland City FC and that is my only focus right now," he said.

"This is the most important thing to concentrate on at the moment.

"Our club has a big opportunity to try and achieve something special and my focus is only on doing that."


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2 min read
Published 25 April 2015 12:07pm
Updated 25 April 2015 12:23pm

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